YORK Acorn are confident they can bounce back in style from their hard-hitting double whammy.

Acorn's six-match unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday as they went down 32-8 to Hunslet Warriors, and this week it was confirmed that inspirational half-back Darren Callaghan has left the club.

As reported in the Evening Press, the former York Wasps stand-off has joined Northern Ford Premiership outfit Sheffield Eagles, but Acorn believe they have enough strength in depth to fill the void and get back to winning ways, starting with the visit of Millom on Saturday

Club spokesman Paul Lumby said: "We've also lost Darren who was an inspirational play-maker who notched 12 tries in six games.

"At this level you need a good stand-off and replacing him will be our main concern, but we have got enough talent at the club to be able to fill the gap."

As reported, forward Lee McTigue is also expected to be out for most of the season with knee ligament damage.

McTigue, Callaghan, Steven Irving, Alan Willitts and in-form loose forward Rob Lee all missed Saturday's defeat, though the latter three should be back to face Millom.

"Nobody expected us to go through the full season unbeaten and Hunslet were one of the sides we expected to give us a tough game," said Lumby.

"We had four or five players missing but every team has to go through that at some stage and they were better than us on the day.

"We will be stronger this week, and we should also have back Dave Norman who has been ruled out up to now through work commitments."

This will be the relegated Cumbrians' first-ever visit to Thanet Road, and Lumby added: "On paper, they haven't seemed to travel well this year but to write them off with the team they've got would be foolish.

"It is a good chance for us to bounce back to winning ways but they can't be under-estimated."

Heworth travel to Dewsbury Moor on Saturday desperate to put their shock 17-12 defeat by Cottingham Tigers behind them.

Heworth, who started the season with five straight wins, have now lost two on the bounce and are desperate to return to winning ways.

"We've let ourselves down," said club spokesman Ken Sykes.

"We won our first five games, then lost a close match 21-20 to Milford and on Saturday we lost a match we expected to win against Cottingham Tigers.

"We didn't perform at all, but we've now got to get back on track."

Heworth are expecting to put a similar side out for the clash against struggling Moor, giving a number of players the chance to make amends.

"The opportunity is there to put things right," said Sykes. "Very few of the team played anywhere near their potential, so they are going to have to dig deep."

New Earswick All Blacks welcome back John Leach as they look to pick up their first win of the Yorkshire League senior division season at Brotherton.

Leach, who has missed the start of the campaign through suspension, comes into the second row for the clash, while the All Blacks have a full squad to pick from.

Press officer Charles Rollinson said: "It will be a big boost to have John back, he is a good player.

"It will be a tough game for us but with a full squad available we should do well."

The All Blacks, who are currently bottom of the table without a win, remain confident of a victory despite their perilous position.

"We have picked up in every game and were unlucky to lose our last match 12-10 when we had a bad ten-minute spell, so we're not downhearted," added Rollinson.

Most other games in the Yorkshire League lower divisions, including those involving Selby Warriors, York Acorn 'A' and Heworth 'A', as well as those in the Pennine League, in which York Groves play, have been postponed because of the Super League Grand Final later that day.

Meanwhile, all divisions in the Yorkshire League, apart from the premier division, are currently undergoing a review and possible reorganisation.

Updated: 12:12 Thursday, October 11, 2001